[C320-list] Steering wire break

[argates2nd at comcast.net]

Ken, 

I will try the Ft. Myers rigger but I still need to get one bolt out below the compass for access to remove the entire wire.  I got that far with a flashlight about 2 hours ago so no pictures.  

The break was aft of the tightening adjustment bolts and right after it enters the big quadrant pulley wheel headed to the eye bolts. 

That entry point is about 1" wide, and the wire runs out there in both directions.  The rudder reference unit was screwed in from below that entry point and about 1/4" of the screws were exposed in between the two wires running out, so I suspect that the wire was loose enough (1" play per foot is normal I believe) that the wire wore on the SS screw threads, which will be removed when I replace the wires.  

I feel fortunate that no one of our crew of 5 was hurt and that the mishap occurred in the middle of the race course and not in traffic at the start or when rounding the committee boat mark.  Wire tension is something I will check twice per year in the future!  Rollie 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken Danko" <ken320 at sbcglobal.net> 
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 11:16:03 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Steering wire break 

I'm sorry to hear that you had this experience but glad that no one was 
hurt. My cable broke a few months back. I had a rigger make two new 
cables. It only took him a couple of minutes. Even if the rigger is 
busy, he won't have to take too much time. Take the broken cable to him 
so that he can match it. 

Just my 2 cents. 

Just out of curiosity, where did it break? Can you post photos on the 
C320 web site? 

Ken, 
#802, "Grace" 

argates2nd at comcast.net wrote: 
> A new experience today:  steering wire broke while racing & beating to a mark.  Fortunately the closest boat was about 200 yds behind us in 20+ mph gusting wind.  He got around us and then we were able to get the sails down, get the emergency tiller on, and get off the race couse.  Then we jury rigged using two vice grips and tape to steer into our marina with the wheel.   
> 
> Does anyone know which of these kits from Edson's website we need?  The owner's manual only references Fig. 775 kits. 
> 
>     
> 
> 773 Wire Rope Hardware Kit: 
> 
> 187   $53.00 
> 
> 250   $58.00 
> 
> 
> 
> We just have 2 Monday's left in our Spring series so I need to get the replacement kit quickly and the closest rigger is 40 miles away and he is pretty busy.  I have everything apart except one of the 4 bolts below the compass where I need to get a bigger phillips head with a square shaft for leverage. 
>